A BANK temporary worker was given access to customer security details, then told by a colleague how to exploit his job for thousands of pounds.

Daimeon Davis told five MBNA customers he had cancelled credit cards as they requested, but kept the account open and used their security details to access money in their name.

In 2005 the Manchester Metropolitan University student, now 26, obtained £14,634 through balance transfers and cash withdrawals. Only £7,619 of the cash has been recovered.

Davis, of Lower Chatham Street, Manchester, was recruited through an agency to work in August-September 2005.

He told police another MBNA employee told him how to use security information to access cash.

Davis appeared in Chester Crown Court on Tuesday charged with two counts of obtaining property by deception and three counts of obtaining money transfer by deception.

The court heard he used customer security details to redirect the account to his friends' address, then arranged balance transfers into his friends' accounts. He paid them a percentage of the money in return for using their accounts.

Prosecuting, Paulinus Barnes said Davis also requested new cards and PINs then withdrew hundreds of pounds in cash.

The customers, from across the UK, were unaware the fraud had taken place until in September 2005 the bank detected unusual activity and contacted them.

Davis was arrested a year later and initially denied the charges, then admitted them in full.

Judge Roger Dutton said: 'It is curious a bank should take on agency staff and give them access to confidential information.

'It seems the temptation to help yourself was irresistible. You used your position to take advantage of those who were employing you.'

Davis was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out 250 hours community work.

Paul Lawler, of MBNA, said the bank always carry out background and criminal checks on new employees, including temporary staff, before giving them access to information.

He added that fraud against the bank is rare but is detected at an early stage and will always result in prosecution.